Photo: Pohutukawa Flowers

Beautiful red flowers adorn the Pohutukawa tree at Omata Beach on the North Island of New Zealand.

The Pohutukawa tree is a coastal evergreen tree of the myrtle family that flourishes into a radiant display of red flowers made up of a cluster of stamens. The Pohutukawa tree flowers from November to January with a peak in mid to late December and is one of twelve Metrosideros species that is native to New Zealand.

The nickname for the Pohutukawa tree is the "New Zealand Christmas Tree" and the bright red flowers vary between individual trees in the shade and brightness of the flowers. Pohutukawa trees can grow to heights of up to twenty metres with a dome-like spreading form.Pohutukawa trees have been threatened in the last few years due to the brushtail possum which strips the tree of their leaves. New Zealand has created a charitable conservation trust that aims at saving the declining numbers of the Pohutukawa tree and other species of its genus. ... continue below the picture...

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The finest examples of the Pohutukawa tree can be found in most of the North Island coastal cities of New Zealand. These stunning flowers adorn the North Island and add a touch more beauty to the already spectacular landscape of New Zealand.

Pohutukawa Tree at Omata Beach, Taranaki, North Island, New Zealand.